Boy Monster Chapter 9

After throwing up once, he got into the car Lim Geonhwi had sent. The driver’s seat was shielded by bulletproof glass and black curtains. Jae Eunho changed into the suit prepared in the back seat and leaned back against the sofa. The moon hung over the Namsan Tower in the distance. Various night lights bloomed across the darkened city.

—Five sinkholes, measuring 50cm wide, 50cm long, and 2m deep, have been discovered since the first one was found in the Euljiro hotel district in Seoul on the evening of the 27th. Traffic control is in place, causing inconvenience to citizens.

The news radio reporting incidents and accidents continued without pause. For Eunho, who lived buried in classified incidents and accidents never revealed to the media, the news was like a relaxing quiz corner.

—The Jongno District Office announced that it will restore the ground subsidence caused by the damage to the Euljiro and Jongno underground sewage systems as quickly as possible.

If it’s the Euljiro hotel district, it’s close to Jogyesa Temple. I wonder if Monk Jiguk is alright. Eunho took out his phone. He was about to call his almost only friend, the monk. Just then, a chat app notification went off. Another message arrived from the person he had only checked earlier without replying.

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Eunho replied with a straight face. He realized after sending it that he had dropped the formal speech out of habit.

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Not in the mood to chuckle at such wordplay, he turned off the app. The car stopped, and the news radio stopped too. It meant they had arrived at the Seoul Arts Center. Showtime.

Lim Geonhwi had a nasty habit. Before engaging in sexual acts with Eunho in his house-arrest residence, he would always take him to places where he could mingle with high-ranking acquaintances.

—Is Mr. Heathcliff human? If he is, he’s mad; and if not, he’s a fiend.

Tonight was the premiere of the play Wuthering Heights. After having the press photograph him watching the play with the British Council diplomat and the Vice Minister of Culture, a luncheon with the VIPs was scheduled. Famous actors and agency CEOs would also be attending.

—He shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he’s handsome, Nelly, but because he’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.

Eunho accompanied Lim Geonhwi to the high-society gathering as his same-sex lover. Lim Geonhwi considered the time Eunho spent being submissive to him in front of famous entertainers, members of the National Assembly, and political and business figures as foreplay.

—Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my soul!

In 1992, at the opening banquet of a hotel Lim Geonhwi had co-invested in, Jae Eunho was officially introduced as Lim Geonhwi’s partner in front of key government officials. It was an event that could be considered a wedding ceremony for those in the know. Since then, Eunho had died and been reborn twice. He died on the lunar eclipse of July 5, 2001, and was reborn on the solar eclipse of June 11, 2002. He died on the lunar eclipse of April 26, 2013, and was reborn on the solar eclipse of October 8, 2014.

Lim Geonhwi didn’t seem to be afraid of Jae Eunho, who had been lying in the morgue deep beneath the NIS headquarters twice. On the contrary, his obsession deepened, and he even developed a quirk of documenting his sexual acts with Eunho in photographs. Eunho was the living being at the top of his list of collected rarities.

—My soul’s bliss kills my body, but does not satisfy itself.

The subtle scent of expensive perfume drifted from Lim Geonhwi’s suit next to him. Jae Eunho remained by Lim Geonhwi’s side until the play ended.

Rare wines collected by Lim Geonhwi were brought to the luncheon table. Eunho skillfully cut his meat, adhering to the table manners ingrained in him over the years. The diplomat lavishly praised the play.

“The scene where Heathcliff digs up Catherine’s grave was truly remarkable.”

“It was a demonic love coexisting with hatred. Expressing that on stage wasn’t easy.”

“Is such a thing truly possible? Is it an emotion only possible in fiction?”

“What are you referring to?”

“He becomes a monster because of love. I’m asking if that’s possible.”

“Well, I’m an extreme realist. From the moment talk of souls and lives in love comes up, I can’t relate.”

The entertainment agency CEO’s joke slightly eased the stiff atmosphere. Lim Geonhwi seized the opportunity.

“Becoming a monster because of love? It’s possible. I think it might be possible for me, as long as it’s not caught by military radar and satellite images.”

The joke, befitting his status and position, brought laughter to the table. Lim Geonhwi, with his deep-rooted elite consciousness and social graces, made people proud to be acquainted with him. He had shown record-breaking mission performance capabilities in the HID special forces during his active duty days, earning him an early promotion to the leadership, and now held the position of Army Chief of Staff.

The actress, turning her gaze to Jae Eunho sitting next to Lim Geonhwi, asked,

“What do you think, Mr. Eunho?”

The fact that Eunho was the most powerful Sa Yeonri, responsible for the S.E.T.U. Special Forces and in charge of the education and management of Hwelju and Yeonri, was a state secret. Publicly, he was introduced as a history researcher and novelist. Eunho placed his knife on his plate and answered.

“I would suggest to Heathcliff that he could live less destructively.”

People focused on Eunho’s words with intrigued expressions. The actress, unaware of their relationship, was clearly showing interest in Eunho.

“What do you mean by living less destructively?”

“Did he need to fall apart like that because his lover died? He could have adapted to reality. I don’t know if he really needed to become a monster and see it through to a tragic end.”

Jae Eunho’s voice had the power to draw trust and favor, capturing everyone’s attention. Eunho continued his argument.

“He could have entered a loveless marriage, or forced himself to try dating.”

“…….”

The heavy woody scent emanating from Lim Geonhwi had been bothering him for a while. Whether it was because the scent felt stronger today, or because he was still slightly intoxicated, he ended up blurting out the rest. Right up until Lim Geonhwi’s lips tightened into a thin line.

“Who knows, maybe some hope or enjoyment might come from going on dates he doesn’t want to. No one knows the future.”

The agency CEO, noticing the actress’s interest and already wary of Lim Geonhwi, spoke up.

“Mr. Jae Eunho doesn’t have to worry about becoming a monster, does he? He’s in a common-law marriage with the Army Chief of Staff, so what’s there to be insecure about? I should be the one worrying. Ugh, what am I going to do with my crypto? I’ll have to hold several concerts to barely break even.”

Everyone burst out laughing. The only ones not laughing were the surprised actress and Lim Geonhwi. Eunho, with a bright smile, concluded the conversation.

“Wouldn’t life become bearable if he lived less destructively, gained what he could gain, and found big and small joys?”

Lim Geonhwi’s fake smile traveled across his wine glass. He spoke,

“Is life bearable these days?”

“It couldn’t be better.”

As Jae Eunho delivered a sharp, precise answer, Lim Geonhwi smiled faintly. The chilling scar on his cheek from his active duty days deepened like a dimple.

Slap

A large hand slapped across his cheek. The spot where he was hit felt like it was on fire. His glasses flew to the corner of the bed. Jae Eunho turned his head back to its original position. The knees he saw in front of him were blurry. Lim Geonhwi ordered,

“Put your glasses on.”

Lim Geonhwi loosened his tie. He removed his suit jacket and vest in turn, and undid two buttons of his shirt. Putting on long leather gloves, Lim Geonhwi ordered in a calm tone,

“You can’t see anything without your glasses, can you? So you can properly see yourself having sex with me. Put them on.”

While Eunho put his glasses back on as ordered and knelt on the bed, Lim Geonhwi pressed a button on the remote control to activate the machine. The machine installed next to the bed unfolded itself. The artificial penis and vibrator, which would invade Eunho’s body, unfolded stage by stage with mechanical precision.

“Are you going to undress yourself today? You’ll be hit every time I’m not satisfied with the speed.”

Slap, a fierce fire erupted on his cheek again. Before Lim Geonhwi, taking a deep drag of his cigarette, could speak further, Eunho straightened his crooked glasses. Lim Geonhwi grabbed Eunho’s hair as he watched him unbutton his shirt. Eunho muttered, “Fuck…” Immediately afterward, his cheek was struck again, this time on the other side.